Reading glass support for map holders



Aug. 15, 1939. H. BAUM READING 'GLASS SUPPORT FOR HAP HOLDERS Filed Aug. 19, 1956 w m u Mg pm 4 W V Z am y I! n MN Q {Q *N Q v w m NW w kw .Q

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 U rs sires giant READING GLASS SUPPORT FOR MAP HOLDERS.

Henr Baum, Bowling Green, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Edward B. Richard, Bowling Green,

Ohio

Application August 19, 1936, Serial No. 96,719

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in map holders and the main object is to provide a simple and convenient device for holding a folded road map such as tourists use and having a lamp for illuminating the same and an adjustable magnifying glass for more convenient reading thereof,

Another object is to provide a device of this kind in a simple, compact and inexpensive form which may be readily mounted in any convenient position on the automobile handy to the view and inspection of the driver.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind comprising a flat rectangular base turned up at opposite margins to form grooves through which a folded road map may be slipped to lie flat on the base, there being a lamp and reflector located centrally on one margin to illuminate the map and there being spaced upright tubular posts along the margins in which mounted U- shaped yokes are slidably mounted and attached to a magnifying glass which is thusadjustably held over the base.

With these and other objects in View the invention resides'in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing as showing a preferred embodiment of my invention for purposes of exemplification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my map holder.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is a fragmental and central side elevation.

In carrying out my invention I provide a rec-.

tangular base or base plate 5 of any desired size and shape and made up of suitable sheet material having opposite parallel margins 6 rolled and turned inward forming marginal channels, grooves or slideways l which open toward the center of the base as shown. A folded road map A (or any other paper, etc.) may thus be slipped edgewise onto the base 5, the margins of the map fitting into the grooves l to hold the map in place. It will be noted that the margins 6 are first bent downward or rearward from the plane of the base 5 as shown at to before being turned back on the base and the extremities 6b rather than lying parallel with the base incline upwardly or forwardly away from the base somewhat as shown. By this formation the margins of the map A are crimped downward somewhat at their extreme edges holding the map firmly in place and causing a slight upward arching or bellying of the upper layers of the map which prevent the formation of crinkles and aid in reading the map. Apertures 8 are punched in the base 5 and countersunk for the reception of screws (not shown) for securing the base to the automobile in any desired position and location. Centrally along one margin 6 of the base 5 an L-shaped lamp reflector or housing 9 of bright metal is secured and has its upper portion l0 turned inward a short distance above or in front of the base. A conventional lamp socket ll for the reception of a small electric lamp [2 is secured to the margin 6 within this reflector 9 and is connected through a small toggle switch I3 towires l4 which are led off to the auto battery so that closing of said switch will light the lamp. Thus the face of the map A will be brightly i illuminated while the reflector end II] will prevent the light rays from striking the observers eyes and hindering his vision. The switch [3 is conveniently located in the reflector 9 as shown.

In spaced relation at the center of each margin 6 a. pair of tubular posts l5 are secured by welding, soldering or the like and extend upwardly or forwardly in parallelism from the said margins. In. the bores 16 of each pair of posts [5 on each margin an inverted U-shaped yoke ll of rod or heavy wire is slidably mounted, the legs E8 of the yokes being turned downwardly into the bores 15 as shown. Tubular members [9 are then rotatably seated on the bights 20 of the yokes I1 and these members are soldered, welded or otherwise secured in tangential, diamertically opposed relation to the rim 2| of a magnifying glass 22. From one member l9, preferably the one over the lamp reflector 9 a. wire handle 23 is extended, this handle being likewise soldered or otherwise fastened to the member at 24.

In use the map is folded so as to display the desired route or features on the outer fold and then placed on the base 5 as described. The fine lines and configurations thereon may then be conveniently read and followed by means of the magnifying glass 22. This glass through the slidable connection of the yokes ll with the posts l5 may be moved toward or away from the map and may be tilted relative thereto to secure the proper focus. The lamp l2 may be lighted where needed. Owing to the rigid setting or mounting of the posts 15, the legs l8 of the yokes ll, may be pulled out either equally, or to a certain extent unequally at top or bottom, for the purpose of tilting the glass 22 upwardly or downwardly, and the assembly will be then held in such fixed position through the friction of the legs within the tubular posts. Thus the glass 22 may be readily focused upon any point of the upwardly arched portion of the map A, as may be found desirable.

The use of such an accessory will render much easier the ordinarily laborious and painstaking study of such maps as will be understood and While I have herein set forth certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to provide a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a device of the kind described for supporting and focusing a reading glass over an outwardly arched portion of a map, a base, spaced pairs of tubular posts rigidly set on the base in rectilinear spaced relation, a pair of U-shaped yokes having their legs slidably mounted in the posts, tubular 

